Grab block for fork lift trucks



V. L. WATKINS GRAB BLOCK FOR FORK LIFT TRUCKS Nov. 17, 1953 Filed April 9, 1951 INVENTO1 V/cfar L. Wd/Kl/ZS ATTORNE Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention has to do with devices for handling boxes, cartons and other equipment and relates more specifically to industrial lifts commonly employed in warehouses and'the like, the primary object being to provide means on the fingers or forks of the lift for facilitating the handling of heavier articles to prevent slippage thereof from the forks.

It is the most important object of the present invention to provide a grab block for the fork of an industrial lift that is adapted for simple removal from the fork when its use is not desired or needed and having means of mounting that is capable of preventing rotation of the block on the fork when placed in use.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a grab block for industrial lifts that comprises a polygonal body adapted to rest flatly on its fork and having a shank depending therefrom that is polygonal in cross-section and received by a complementary perforation of the fork, all for the purpose of pushing or pulling heavy objects Within a warehouse or to and from a position loaded for transportation.

Other objects of the present invention include the way in which ribs are provided upon the grab block to prevent slippage; the manner of forming the ribs in the shape of a V to more effectively cause the same to bite into boxes and the like; and all of which will become clear as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fork lift truck showing grab blocks made in accordance with my present invention associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of one of the blocks per se.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line VV of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

An industrial fork lift truck with which the grab blocks of the present invention are adapted to be used is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing and broadly designated by the numeral I0. Those skilled in this art well understand that lifts II] are mobile and provided with a suitable prime mover for effecting forward movement, together with means for raising and lowering laterally extending fingers or forks I2 on framework I4.

It is quite common practice to utilize pallets in connection with merchandise to be handled by lifts II] that are in turn provided with sufficient many other more minor objects,

support the same.

space therebeneath to receive the fingers I2. Many times however, such pallets are'not available for certain types of articles and it will be appreciated that the grab blocks hereof are adaptable to facilitate handling of the merchandise being stored or made ready for shipment whether or not such pallets are used.

It is contemplated that a grab block be provided for each finger I2 respectively and since the same are identical, only one need be described. Grab blocks t6 comprise a relatively fiat, polygonal, preferably imperforate body It, made from any suitable material capable of withstanding the abuse to which the same will be placed. Many types of metal are suitable for this purpose and in making the blocks I6, a suitable mold may be provided or the block machined to the shape illustrated as desired.

Body I8 is provided with an elongated shank 20 that depends from the normally lowermost face thereof and is preferably integral with body i8. Shank 20 is polygonal in cross-section and adapted to be received by a correspondingly shaped perforation 22 in the fork I2 that is to The length and width, as well as the thickness of the body I8, may be varied to suit the desires of the user, but in most cases it will be desirable that blocks I6 be narrower and shorter than the forks I2.

It is noted in Fig. 1 of the drawing that the lower faces of the bodies I8 rest flatly upon the uppermost face of the corresponding forks I2 and by virtue of the polygonal cross-sections of the shanks 2t and the perforations 22, bodies I8 cannot rotate on the forks I2 when placed in use. The lengths of the shanks 20 will depend upon the thicknesses of the forks I2 and to this end it is to be preferred that the shanks 20 do not extend below the lowermost face of forks I2.

Body I8 is provided with a plurality of V-shaped ribs 24 on the uppermost face thereof opposite to the shank 20. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawing, the ribs 24 are arranged much in the manner of the bars of a chevron and are preferably polygonal in cross-section and provided with an uppermost surface that is scored as at 26.

When the blocks I6 are inserted in place upon the forks I2, their use will vary according to the type of merchandise to be handled and the nature of such handling. The mechandise may be pushed by the truck ID, in which case the normally forwardmost edge of the bodies I8 will bear directly against the box, the merchandise itself or a pallet that underlies the same. If a 3 cross-member is available on the box or if a pallet is used having cross-bars, then the blocks [8 may also be used to pull the merchandise. In this case, the normally rearmost edge of the body 18 will bear against such cross-bar and the merchandise can be dragged without danger of dislodgment. Occasionally merchandise must be handled that has no effective means thereon that can be engaged for pushing or pulling, in which case the-ribs 24 present an a'nti slip' means for receiving'the' merchandise and in case of boxes made from wood or like material, a biting acthe merchandise being handled and the grab block l6.

case the blocks 16 can be carried by the truck 10 on the operators platform thereof or in a suitable tool box.

The blocks are inexpensive-to manufacture and can be used for aconsiderable period of time without need for replacement since the chances for damage thereto are slight. struction may of course; vary within the spirit of the present invention, and it is therefore, desired to be limited only by the scope'ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to besecured'by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a perforated fork for an industrial-lift truck of a grab block comprising a polygonal body having one face thereof engaging the normally uppermost face of said fork; a shank on said one face of the body extending into It is seen further that tlie-blocks I6 may be easily and quickly removedfrom the forks I2 when their use is not'de'sire'd, in which Details of con-' said perforation; and a number of spaced, substantially V-shaped ribs on the opposite face of the body.

2. In the invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said ribs includes a pair of elongated legs diverging from an apex, and each of said legs is provided with transverse serrations in its normally uppermost surface and disposed perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis.

3. the invention-a: set forth in claim 2, wherein" said apexes aredisposed in alignment along a median axis of said opposite face of the body, corresponding legs of said ribs are parallel, and-the-1egs--of' each of said ribs extend outwardly to opposite edges of said opposite face of the body wheieby to dispose the legs in traversing relationship tosaid opposite face of the body with the longitudinal axes of the legs and the serrations in a'ngular relationship with said median axls.

VICTOR L. WATKINS.

References-Cited in the. file of this patent STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 979,089 Perry Dec. 20, 1910 1,150,397 Shoemaker Aug. 17, 1915 1,476,628 McDaniel et al. Dec. 4, 1923 1,559,827 Wittman Nov; 3, 1925 1,953,303 Kohlmann Apr. 3, 1934 2,143,285 Schoflld' Jan. 10, 1939 2,190,211 Lavellee Feb. 13, 1940 2,256,453 Bomar Sept. 16, 1941 2,362,991 Dahl" Nov. 21, 1944 2,490,772 Benner Dec. 13, 1949 

